Meet the All-Gainesville Area Wrestling Team, Wrestler of the Year

Two years ago, Cavarius Liddie was named the Gainesville Sun's Wrestler of the Year after a third place finish at states.

The then-sophomore said his goal was to win states his junior and senior seasons.

It's fair to say his mission was accomplished.

Liddie joined teammate Kason Nichols in 2023 in winning a state title.

This season, he returned to the podium.

Now, he's the Sun's Wrestler of the Year for the third season in a row.

Liddie won Class 3A states in the 132 pound class.

Below is the 2023-24 Gainesville Sun's All-Area Wrestling Team. The full team of eight wrestlers, four on the first and second team, are the eight that placed at states and/or regionals. They come from four schools across Classes 1A, 2A and 3A.

First Team

Cavarius Liddle, Buchholz: 144 class; 1^st place at FHSAA 3A states

Rodney Barnett, Union County: 144 class; 2^nd place at FHSAA Class 1A Region 1 Final

Finn Buchanon, Buchholz: 132 class; 2^nd place at FHSAA Class 3A Region 1 Final

Josie Raulerson, Columbia: 235 class; 1^st place at FHSAA Girls Class 2A Region 1 Final

Second Team

Gabriel Brown, Buchholz: 120 weight class; 4^th place in Class 3A Region 1 Final

Lainie Slayton, Buchholz: 150 weight class; 4^th place at FHSAA Class 3A Region 1 Final

Arthur Vanderpool, Columbia: 150 weight class; 4^th place at FHSAA Class 2A Region 1 Final

Gabriel Ramos, Buchholz: 106 weight class; 3^rd place in Class 3A Region 1 Final

Coach of the Year: Thomas Pankey, Buchholz

Pankey once again helmed a dominant Buchholz program.

He led the Bobcats with five top four finishers at Regionals, and the area's only state champion in senior Cavarius Liddie.

Noah Ram covers Gainesville-area high school sports and University of Florida athletics for The Gainesville Sun. Contact him at Nram@gannett.com and follow him @Noah_ram1 on Twitter.

This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Buchholz's Cavarius Liddie is the Gainesville Sun's Wrestler of the Year